May the Luck of the Irish Be with You Today and Always! Happy St. Patricks Day from the Cincinnati Art Museum! Image: Thomas Buchanan Read (1822–1872) The Harp of Erin, 1867 oil on canvas Gift of Mrs. Michael Shoemaker, 1934.44 The Harp of Erin is an allegory in which the female figure personifies a political message. The young woman, wearing shamrocks in her hair and a green scarf, symbolizes Ireland. She is chained to a large rock that represents England. Read’s meaning is reinforced by the title, as the harp is Ireland’s national symbol and Erin its ancient name. During the nineteenth century, widespread famine and England’s political oppression caused large-scale immigration of the Irish to the United States. By 1851, the Irish were the second largest immigrant community in Cincinnati, representing twelve percent of the population. The plight of the Irish deeply concerned politically aware Americans.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 13:55:42 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015